Posted: Friday, September 30, 2016. 10:30 a.m. CST.
By BBN Staff:Admiral Kurt Walter Tidd, the Commander of United States Southern Command concluded a two-day visit to Belize yesterday with a meeting held with Commander Belize Defense Force, Brigadier General David Jones and Chief of Defense Staff of the Guatemalan Armed Forces, Major General Juan Manuel Perez Ramirez, at Caracol Ruins in the Mountain Pine Ridge.
The main purpose of the meeting was to encourage dialogue and cooperation, particularly on border issues between Belize and Guatemala.
Among their discussions, was the important role that the armed forces must play in regards to regional security.
Admiral Tidd along with US Ambassador Carlos Moreno also held meetings with key officials within the Ministry of Defense including Minister John Saldivar, CEO in the Ministry of Defense, Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard and Commander of the Belize Defense Force, to discuss US support to the BDF and Coast Guard and joint collaboration of operational and training activities between the two countries.
Admiral Tidd and Ambassador Moreno participated in the handing over of cleaning supplies valued at $28,000 to NEMO as part of the US on-going participation in the relief efforts for Hurricane Earl.
They also met with Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow to further discuss military and humanitarian cooperation efforts between Belize, the United States and other Central American and Caribbean countries and the important role that Belize and its neighboring countries play in maintaining peace, security and stability within the region.
Commander SOUTHCOM reiterated the US commitment for continued support to the Belize Defense Force and the Belize Coast Guard in their efforts to meet the security challenges in Belize as they relate to counter narcotics, terrorism and illegal cross border activities.
Commander US SOUTHCOM has departed Belize for Guatemala, where he will engage in similar activities with the Armed Forces and Government of that country.
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